I am advised:
This is a matter for the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Industry and Trade.
Further information provided on 14 August 2019 by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, Industry and Trade.
(1) Round 6 of the Resources for Regions program involved an Expression of Interest (EOI) process in which applications are shortlisted and then requested to submit a Detailed Application. 17 of 19 shortlisted applicants were invited to submit Detailed Applications by 2 November 2018. 2 applications were shortlisted out of session by Infrastructure NSW and invited to submit by 16 November 2018.
(a) 19 Detailed Applications were received.
(b) The 19 applications received were all from local government. Councils can provide information on the applications they have submitted.
(c) As above.
(d) The total combined value of funds sought in the 19 Detailed Applications was $53,472,928.
(e) Cessnock City Council applied for and was approved for a partial co-contribution exemption under the Resources for Regions Program Guidelines, at the recommendation of the Regional Independent Assessment Panel. This exemption is available on the basis of regional disadvantage measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. All other successful projects met the minimum 25 per cent co-contribution requirement.
(f) Projects were approved by the Expenditure Review Committee on 21 February 2019. Caretaker conventions then came into effect. On 23 April, the Deputy Premier's office received a departmental briefing with notifications to applicants
(g) As above.
(h) On 30 April 2019 it was announced that 11 successful projects had been funded under Round 6 of Resources for Regions.
(i) No one is waiting for announcements. All applicants in Round 6 of the Resources for Regions program have been notified of the outcome of their application and successful applicants have been issued with draft funding deeds.